DEMAND-BASED DISTRIBUTION OF ITEMS USING INTERMODAL CARRIERS AND UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES

• US 20180265296A1
• Filed: 03/16/2017
• Published: 09/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beckman, Brian C., Bjone, Nicholas
• Granted Patent: US 10,384,692 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/00 Manipulators not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1679 characterised by the tasks executed
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 3/16 adapted for carrying special loads
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 3/18 for vehicles vehicles adapted to carry other vehicles, in general, B60P3/06
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 3/184 the heavy vehicles being of the trailer or semi-trailer type
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 39/006 Opening and closing means
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0081 On-board diagnosis or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/14 Following schedules
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/00 Type of UAV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/64 for parcel delivery or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/90 Launching from or landing on platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/20 with arrangements for servicing the UAV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0464 with access from above
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1373 for fulfilling orders in warehouses
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 : Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 : Location or geographical consideration

Abstract

Intermodal vehicles may be loaded with items and an aerial vehicle, and directed to travel to areas where demand for the items is known or anticipated. The intermodal vehicles may be coupled to locomotives, container ships, road tractors or other vehicles, and equipped with systems for loading one or more items onto the aerial vehicle, and for launching or retrieving the aerial vehicle while the intermodal vehicles are in motion. The areas where the demand is known or anticipated may be identified on any basis, including but not limited to past histories of purchases or deliveries to such areas, or events that are scheduled to occur in such areas. Additionally, intermodal vehicles may be loaded with replacement parts and/or inspection equipment, and configured to conduct repairs, servicing operations or inspections on aerial vehicles within the intermodal vehicles, while the intermodal vehicles are in motion.

Claims

1. A distribution system comprising:

a fulfillment center;

a first locomotive;

a first intermodal carrier vehicle;

a first aerial vehicle releasably mounted within the first intermodal carrier vehicle; and

at least one computer system in communication with at least the fulfillment center, the first locomotive, the first intermodal carrier vehicle and the first aerial vehicle, wherein the at least one computer system is configured to execute a method comprising;

predicting, at a first time, a level of demand for a first item in a first geographic region at a second time, wherein the fulfillment center is not in the first geographic region;

determining a first number of the first item associated with the first level of demand in the first geographic region at the second time;

prior to the second time,

loading at least the first number of the first item into a compartment of the first intermodal carrier vehicle at the fulfillment center;

coupling the first intermodal carrier vehicle to the first locomotive; and

causing the first locomotive and the first intermodal carrier vehicle to depart from the fulfillment center on a first set of rails in a first direction associated with the first geographic area;

receiving an order for a delivery of one of the first item to a location in the first geographic area;

determining a first distance between a first departure point on the first set of rails and the location;

causing the one of the first item to be loaded onto the first aerial vehicle within the first intermodal carrier vehicle;

causing the first aerial vehicle to launch from the first intermodal carrier vehicle at the first departure point;

causing the first aerial vehicle to travel from the first departure point to the location; and

causing the first aerial vehicle to deposit the item at the location.

2. The distribution system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second locomotive;

a second intermodal carrier vehicle;

a second aerial vehicle releasably mounted within the second intermodal carrier vehicle,

wherein the at least one computer system is in communication with at least the second locomotive, the second intermodal carrier vehicle and the second aerial vehicle, and

wherein the method further comprises;

prior to the second time,

loading at least one of the first item into the second intermodal carrier at the fulfillment center;

coupling the second intermodal carrier vehicle to the second locomotive;

causing the second locomotive and the second intermodal carrier vehicle to depart from the fulfillment center on a second set of rails in a second direction;

determining a second distance between a second departure point on the second set of rails and the location;

determining a comparison of the first distance to the second distance; and

selecting the first aerial vehicle for the delivery of the one of the first item based at least in part on the comparison.

3. The distribution system of claim 1, wherein predicting the level of demand for the first item in the first geographic region at the second time comprises:

prior to the first time,

determining, by the at least one computer system, at least one of;

purchases of the first item or a second item by customers in the first geographic area over a predetermined period of time, wherein the second item is one of a complement to the first item or a substitute for the first item;

or

deliveries of the first item or the second item to locations in the first geographic area over the predetermined period of time,

wherein the level of demand for the first item in the first geographic area is predicted based at least in part on at least one of the prior purchases or the prior deliveries.

4. The distribution system of claim 1, wherein the first intermodal carrier vehicle comprises:

at least one intermodal container defining the compartment at least in part, wherein the at least one intermodal container comprises a steel frame and a rollable door on an upper surface of the steel frame, and wherein a lower surface of the steel frame is in contact with a first well car;

a motorized roller disposed within the compartment, wherein the motorized roller is configured to extend or retract the rollable door;

a robotic arm disposed within the compartment;

wherein the at least one computer system is in communication with the motorized roller and the robotic arm, and

wherein causing the one of the first item to be loaded onto the first aerial vehicle within the first intermodal carrier vehicle comprises;

engaging the one of the first item by the robotic arm; and

causing the one of the first item to be loaded into a cargo bay of the first aerial vehicle by the robotic arm, and

wherein causing the first aerial vehicle to launch from the first aerial vehicle at the first departure point comprises;

opening, by the motorized roller, the rollable door prior to launching the first aerial vehicle; and

closing, by the motorized roller, the rollable door after the aerial vehicle has been launched.

5. A method comprising:

determining a level of demand for a first item in a first geographic area at a first time by at least one computer server;

in response to determining the level of demand for the first item in the first geographic area at the first time,

selecting a first number of the first item based at least in part on the level of demand for the first item in the first geographic area at the first time by the at least one computer server;

loading at least the first number of the first item into at least a first compartment of a first intermodal carrier at a first location prior to the first time, wherein the first location is not in the first geographic area;

loading at least a first aerial vehicle into at least the first compartment of the first intermodal carrier at the first location prior to the first time;

coupling the first intermodal carrier to at least a first powered vehicle prior to the first time;

selecting a first route departing from the first location for the first intermodal carrier based at least in part on at least one attribute of the first powered vehicle and the first geographic area; and

causing, by at least the first powered vehicle, the first intermodal carrier to depart from the first location along the first route prior to the first time.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving an order for a delivery of one of the first item to a second location over a network after the first time; and

in response to receiving the order for the delivery of the one of the first item to the second location,

causing the one of the first item to be loaded onto the first aerial vehicle within the first intermodal carrier;

causing the first aerial vehicle to launch from the first intermodal carrier at a first departure point along the first route;

causing the first aerial vehicle to travel from the first departure point to the second location; and

causing the first aerial vehicle to deposit the item at the location.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

in response to receiving the order for the delivery of the one of the first item to the second location,

determining the first departure point along the first route by the at least one computer server, wherein the first departure point is determined based at least in part on at least one of a speed of the first intermodal carrier, the second location, a second time at which the order was received or a third time at which the delivery of the one of the first item is requested; and

determining a first distance between the first departure point and the second location by the at least one computer server,

wherein the one of the first item is caused to be loaded onto the first aerial vehicle within the first intermodal carrier in response to determining the first distance.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

in response to determining the level of demand for the first item in the first geographic area at the first time,

loading at least a second number of the first item into at least a second compartment of a second intermodal carrier at one of the first location or a third location prior to the first time, wherein the third location is not in the first geographic area; and

loading at least a second aerial vehicle into at least the second compartment of the second intermodal carrier at the one of the first location or the third location prior to the first time;

coupling the second intermodal carrier to at least a second powered vehicle prior to the first time;

selecting a second route departing the one of the first location or the third location for the second intermodal carrier based at least in part on at least one attribute of the second powered vehicle and the first geographic area;

causing, by at least the second powered vehicle, the second intermodal carrier to depart from the one of the first location or the third location along the second route prior to the first time;

determining a second departure point along the second route by the at least one computer server, wherein the second departure point is determined based at least in part on at least one of a speed of the second intermodal carrier, the second location, the second time or the third time;

determining a second distance between the second departure point and the second location by the at least one computer server; and

selecting the first aerial vehicle for the delivery of the delivery of the one of the first item based at least in part on the first distance and the second distance.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the first intermodal carrier comprises a steel frame having at least one automatic door at an upper surface of the steel frame,

wherein the steel frame has a height of at least nine feet, a width of approximately eight-and-one-half feet and a length of approximately fifty-three feet, and

wherein causing the first aerial vehicle to launch from the first intermodal carrier at the first departure point along the first route comprises:

operating the at least one automatic door to open the compartment of the first intermodal carrier before the first intermodal carrier reaches the first departure point.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one automatic door is a rollable door forming at least a portion of the upper surface of the steel frame, and

wherein the at least one automatic door is configured to translate along the upper surface of the steel frame between an open position and a closed position.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the level of demand for the first item in the first geographic area at the first time comprises:

determining, by the at least one computer server, at least one of;

purchases of the first item or a second item by customers in the first geographic area over a predetermined period of time, wherein the second item is one of a complement to the first item or a substitute for the first item, and wherein the first time follows the predetermined period of time;

or

deliveries of the first item or the second item to locations in the first geographic area over the predetermined period of time,

wherein the level of demand for the first item in the first geographic area is predicted based at least in part on at least one of the purchases or the deliveries.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the level of demand for the first item in the first geographic area at the first time comprises:

identifying an upcoming event occurring in at least the first geographic area at the first time by the at least one computer server, wherein the first item is related to the upcoming event, and

wherein the level of demand of the first item in the first geographic area is predicted based at least in part on the upcoming event.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the level of demand for the first item in the first geographic area at the first time comprises:

determining levels of demand for the first item in each of a plurality of geographic areas at the first time by the at least one computer server, wherein the first geographic area is one of the plurality of geographic areas; and

selecting one of the plurality of geographic areas having a highest one of the levels of demand for the first item at the first time by the at least one computer server, wherein the first geographic area is the one of the plurality of geographic areas having the highest one of the levels of demand for the first item at the first time.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the level of demand for the first item in the first geographic area at the first time comprises:

determining a level of demand for a second item in the first geographic area at one of the first time or a second time by the at least one computer server;

in response to determining the level of demand for the second item in the first geographic area at the one of the first time or the second time,

selecting a second number of the second item based at least in part on the level of demand for the second item in the first geographic area at the one of the first time or the second time by the at least one computer server;

selecting a first position for the first number of the first item within the first compartment based at least in part on the level of demand for the first item at the first time, wherein at least the first number of the first item is loaded into the first compartment at the first position;

selecting a second position for the second number of the second item within the first compartment based at least in part on the level of demand for the second item at the one of the first time or the second time; and

loading at least the second number of the second item into at least the second compartment at the first location prior to the one of the first time or the second time, wherein at least the second number of the second item is loaded into the first compartment at the second position.

15. The method of claim 5, wherein the first powered vehicle is a locomotive, and

wherein coupling the first intermodal carrier to at least the first powered vehicle prior to the first time comprises:

placing the first intermodal carrier onto a well car prior to the first time; and

coupling the well car to the locomotive prior to the first time,

wherein each of the well car and the locomotive is configured for travel on a common set of rails.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a plurality of sets of rails depart from the first location, and

wherein selecting the first route departing from the first location further comprises:

determining a minimum distance between at least some of the plurality of sets of rails and the first geographic area by the at least one computer server; and

selecting one of the plurality of sets of rails having a shortest minimum distance between the selected one of the plurality of sets of rails and the first geographic area by the at least one computer server,

wherein the first route is associated with the selected one of the plurality of sets of rails.

17. The method of claim 5, wherein the first powered vehicle is one of:

a container ship, wherein the first intermodal carrier is disposed on the container ship;

or

a road tractor, wherein the first intermodal carrier is disposed on a road trailer coupled to the road tractor.

18. A distribution system comprising:

predicting demand for a first item in a first area by at least one computer server;

predicting demand for a second item in a second area by the at least one computer server;

determining a first number of the first item based at least in part on the demand for the first item in the first area;

determining a second number of the second item based at least in part on the demand for the second item in the second area;

loading at least the first number of the first item into an intermodal container at a fulfillment center;

loading at least the second number of the second item into the intermodal container at the fulfillment center;

loading an aerial vehicle into the intermodal container at the fulfillment center;

placing the intermodal container onto a well car at the fulfillment center;

coupling the well car to a locomotive at the fulfillment center;

causing, by the locomotive, the well car to travel on a first set of rails in a first direction associated with at least one of the first area or the second area;

receiving a first order for a delivery of one of the first item to a first location by the at least one computer server;

selecting a first departure point on the first set of rails based at least in part on an operating range of the aerial vehicle, wherein a first distance between the first departure point and the first location is within the operating range;

loading the one of the first item onto the aerial vehicle within the intermodal container;

causing the aerial vehicle to depart from the intermodal container at the first departure point;

causing the first aerial vehicle to execute the delivery of the one of the first item to the first location;

causing the first aerial vehicle to return to the intermodal container at a first rendezvous point on the first set of rails;

receiving a second order for a delivery of one of the second item to a second location by the at least one computer server;

selecting a second departure point on the second set of rails based at least in part on the operating range of the aerial vehicle, wherein a second distance between the second departure point and the second location is within the operating range;

loading the one of the second item onto the aerial vehicle within the intermodal container;

causing the aerial vehicle to depart from the intermodal container at the first departure point; and

causing the first aerial vehicle to execute the delivery of the one of the second item to the second location.

19. The distribution system of claim 18, wherein the fulfillment center is associated with a plurality of sets of rails, and

wherein causing the well car to travel on the first set of rails in the first direction comprises:

determining, for each of the plurality of sets of rails, a first minimum distance between the set of rails and the first area;

determining, for each of the plurality of sets of rails, a second minimum distance between the set of rails and the second area;

selecting one of the sets of rails based at least in part on the first minimum distance and the second minimum distance of the selected one of the sets of rails,

wherein the selected one of the sets of rails is the first set of rails.

20. The distribution system of claim 18, wherein the intermodal container further comprises:

a launch system within a compartment defined by the intermodal container, wherein the launch system is configured to launch at least the aerial vehicle from the intermodal container, and wherein the launch system comprises at least one of an elevator, a pulley, a lift or a catapult;

an engagement system within the compartment defined by the intermodal container, wherein the engagement system is configured to load at least one of the first item or the second item into the aerial vehicle, wherein the engagement system comprises at least one robotic arm; and

a roll-top door at an upper surface of the intermodal container, wherein a motorized roller is configured to retract or extend the roll-top door between an open position and a closed position.